Laboratory Incubator Having Improved Moisture Distribution

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laboratory incubator, more particularly, a gassing incubator, comprising an outer housing incorporating a door and an inner housing surrounding an internal chamber, which comprises a floor, a ceiling, three side walls and a lateral surface that is capable of being closed by said door or by an additional, inner door, and in which a flow channel is present, which comprises at least one air inlet opening in an end region and at least one air outlet opening in a different end region, wherein said at least one air outlet opening is formed such that effluent air is guided along at least one of the side walls and / or the lateral surface in the peripheral region of the internal chamber, and wherein a water reservoir capable of being heated is disposed within the flow channel such that air flowing in the flow channel is passed across or through said water reservoir.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 10 2013 013 665.2, filed Aug. 16, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a laboratory incubator, more particularly a gassing incubator, comprising an outer housing and an inner housing delimiting an internal chamber used for the storage of samples. The internal chamber can be accessed via a door in the outer housing. If necessary, the inner housing may comprise an additional, inner door situated adjacent to the outer door and separately closing the internal chamber. Such an inner door can, for example, be made of glass (see, U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,177 B2).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Laboratory incubators usually serve to store samples, more particularly, biological and / or microbiological samples, in the internal chamber thereof, under p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes an improved laboratory incubator that has several features to improve its performance. First, there is a specific flow control within the incubator that helps to improve its efficiency. Second, the reservoir is placed within the duct in a way that allows air to flow either across or through the water reservoir. This placement helps to prevent contamination of the water reservoir and reduces the risk of pollution of the samples. Additionally, the incubator can transport different gas atmospheres, such as carbon dioxide, to prevent moisture levels from falling which can be damaging to samples. Overall, this patent presents a laboratory incubator with improved features to control the environment in which samples can be stored and cultivated.

Problems solved by technology

However, the air flowing in the duct during normal operation of the incubator cannot flow through said orifices.

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